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The Think Blue Kitesurf World Cup 2014 kicked off today with registration and an impressive opening ceremony that presented all of the registered riders by home country, in front of an enthusiastic crowd. In total, 116 riders representing 28 nationalities registered to compete.

Located on the expansive beaches of St. Peter-Ording, Germany, this event is undoubtedly considered the biggest and most well attended kiteboarding event to date. For the past eight years it has been known to deliver all the spectacular action and suspense that only a world-class event could. Over the course of the next ten days, riders will do battle in the disciplines of freestyle and slalom to compete for €47,000 in prize money.

In the freestyle division, former freestyle World Champion Youri Zoon (NL) is present after a two-event hiatus due to a knee injury, as well as Alberto Rondina, (IT) who has taken some time off from competition. Also present are last year’s winners Marc Jacobs (NZ) and Karolina Winkowska (PL) who are surely motivated to win for the second year in a row. Liam Whaley (ES) will also fight for a spot at the top, fresh off his win at the PKRA Fuerteventura and a recent second place finish in Egypt.

With slalom as the second discipline, the top riders on the planet are present and will showcase their skills and strive for top placements at this major event. Definitely, the top-ranked Julien Kerneur (FR), Ozzie Smith (SA) and Ariel Corniel (DR) along with and Bryan Lake (US) will offer up some of the most incredible racing action seen this year. Furthermore, female frontrunners Katja Roose (NL) and Bibiana Magaji (EE) and Eliska Parma (AT) are also in attendance, and plan to make a strong showing, while others will try to claim the top titles.

As in years past, this event in St Peter-Ording attracts thousands of kiting enthusiasts, industry members, and international media and press, as top riders and hungry up and comers face-off in this prestigious event. First on the competition schedule is the freestyle trials with fifty men competing for ten spots remaining in the main event. For the women, twelve girls will be battling for only five spots remaining.